After a disappointing, momentum killing 3-1 loss in Baltimore on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays will try to bounce back tonight in game two of four. The Rays needs to go 7-2 over the next nine games to end the season at .500, and win outright to even continue their hopes for an improbable postseason berth.
Tampa Bay was held to just one run five hits last night, and now have been limited to two runs or fewer in six of the last nine games. Meanwhile, Matt Andriese bounced back from a tenuous three-run, four-hit first inning to hold the Orioles scoreless over the remainder of his six inning, eight strikeout start.
The New What Next
lex Cobb (11-10, 3.63 ERA, 4.15 FIP) will start for the Rays tonight, pitching opposite of Ubaldo Jimenez (6–10 6.57).
Cobb took a loss to Boston on Saturday, in a 5.1 IP/3 ER outing. That prevented him from becoming the first Rays pitcher with four wins over the Red Sox in a single season. Nevertheless, the right-hander he has a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts since June 9, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 14 of those 16 starts.
Jimenez fanned 10 batters and allowed just one earned run over five solid innings in his last turn. It was the second-most strikeouts he’s had in a game this season. He, however, is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this season, while averaging under four innings of work in each outing. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechvarria (4-7, 2B, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-12, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (7-22, 2 HR, 8 RBI), Logan Morrison (6-14, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), Wilson Ramos (1-2, 2B), Daniel Robertson (1-2)
You can read more about the series in our preview.
Rays 9/22/17 Starting Lineup
Kiermaier CF
Duda DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Dickerson LF
Ramos C
Hechavarria SS
Robertson 2B
Cobb RHP
Noteworthiness
— Tim Beckham will be in the lineup tonight vs. his ex-Rays mates, hitting leadoff and playing short.
— From the mouth of Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) to your ears:
The Rays still talk about having a shot to make the playoffs. But recognizing and correcting mistakes will help them next year, such as Mallex Smith trying to steal third in the first. “Those are the little things we’ve got to find how to eliminate real quick,” manager Kevin Cash said.
— Contrary to what Ken Hagan or Bob Buckhorn might lead you to believe, it appears that a new Rays stadium in Tampa is not a top priority, at least for the taxpayers. According to Tampa Bay Times staff writer, Richard Danielson, 89 percent of respondents to a survey of Tampa citizens prioritize the improvement of streets and easing flooding, over keeping the Rays in the area, much less building a new facility across the bay.
Tampa poll rates streets, flooding, police relations and transportation as top public priorities https://t.co/K5F1mrCy6O via @TB_Times pic.twitter.com/tB4wlCnatL
— Richard Danielson (@Danielson_Times) September 21, 2017
Practically tied for second were police/community relations and mass transportation options, including light rail. Both were rated as important by nearly 75 percent of those surveyed.
Keeping the Tampa Bay Rays in the region came toward the very bottom of the list of taxpayer priorities (39.4 percent). You know, because what’s the point in building a stadium IF YOU CAN’T GET THERE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY?